Hallock Endowment for Military History
Established in 2010, the Col. Richard R. Hallock Endowment for Military History has positioned Columbus State University as a nationally recognized destination for students, historians and members of the Chattahoochee Valley community interested in deepening their understanding of the military, those who serve in it, the wars it fights and its place in U.S. culture.
Each year, the Hallock Endowment sponsors lectures and panel discussions organized around a particular theme related to military history and U.S. foreign policy. Each of these includes internationally recognized experts, award-winning scholars, military leaders and policymakers. Our past events have included the 2023 Iraq War Symposium (in collaboration with the Columbus-based National Infantry Museum), our 2023-24 series “The United States and the Republic of Korea Since 1950,” and the 2024-25 series on “The United States in the Final Year of World War II.”
In partnership with the Hallock Endowment, Columbus State’s Archives & Special Collections is deepening its military history resources for use by academic scholars and military historians. The collection includes the papers of former Secretary of the Army John O. Marsh, Army social work officer James Martin, Army defense analyst Pierre Sprey, and personal papers and correspondence by several other retired military officers and soldiers that document their service domestically and in wartime theaters that include the Civil War, both World Wars, the Korean War, and the Gulf War. Learn more
The endowment funds the COL. Richard R. Hallock Distinguished Chair in Military History; academic programs in the Department of History, Geography & Philosophy; and lectures and symposia open to historians and others. Contributions to the Hallock Endowment help support public programming that brings nationally recognized speakers to Columbus, opportunities for students to engage in research, internships and travel that enhance students' knowledge of military history, and the growing military history collection in the university’s Archives & Special Collections.
Col. Richard R. Hallock, a decorated World War II parachutist, earned 27 military honors, including a Silver Star and five Bronze Stars. During his distinguished career at the Pentagon, he tirelessly championed the interests of American soldiers, notably leading the decade-long effort for the U.S. Army to adopt the M-16 rifle. After retiring in 1967 from 25 years of active service, he advised Defense Secretary James Schlesinger and consulted on political-military affairs. Hallock also achieved entrepreneurial success with his Intrec and Quaestor corporations, specializing in management consulting and real estate. His legacy continues through the foundation bearing his name, established with his wife Myriam Johnston Hallock, which generously established the Hallock Endowment at Columbus State.
For additional information, sign up for the Hallock Endowment’s e-newsletter, email hallockendowment@columbusstate.edu or contact:
Col. Richard R. Hallock Distinguished Chair in Military History and
Associate Professor Department of History, Geography & Philosophy
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